Having taken advantage of the very kind gesture from our chairman Mr J PEACE and the Reading draw this was a must win at home to Leicester.
Today I have all the family in tow, all of which have never seen the Baggies lose a home game: the omens were good. Not when I saw how many coppers were outside the ground; one of those games is it? Or it was for the 1DartBaggie who can be volatile at times, who had made the Devon trip the day before and was in some discomfort with his leg.
The Team
CARSON, REID, TAMAS, OLSSON, CECH; KOREN, MORRISON, MULUMBU, DORRANS, BRUNT; MILLER.
SUBS: KIELY, COX, BARNES, SLORY, BEDNAR, MEITE
Some changes were made from the Reading game, most notably Ben Watson recalled by Wigan in the week. A great shame for us and for him as he had settled in well and added some quality to our midfield. Bednar was on the bench; Olsson, Cech and Koren back in the starting XI.
The First Half
Nice to see and hear a good Baggies welcome to Nigel Pearson and Lloyd Dyer which was well received by both.
The game started brightly and with some venom as Dyer had lost none of his pace to round Steven Reid and blast the ball just wide of our skipper's post.
Again the quick pace of Dyer got behind our defence only for the inform Scott Carson to nick the ball off his feet and Cech cleared.
We made some moves of our own but it soon became clear that our own Ishmael Miller was not up to the job as our lone ranger. In fact I thought he was practicing for Dancing On Ice as he went down so easily it looked like he had skates on.
About the 20min mark we had a free kick from Brunty only for the post to thwart Olsson’s header. From here on we applied the pressure Miller went close with a shot that their 'keeper pushed at only to be cleared by Berner.
Leicester broke from their half and a slick pass from Richie Wellens to Howard who then beat Carson only for Cech to clear the ball with a fine header.
A poor back pass saw Brunt close on the Foxes' keeper who only just gathered the ball in time.
Some slick passing saw us in their half and a poor clearance from Hobbs fell into the path of Graham Dorrans who tapped it on to Morrison and he blasted the ball in to the net GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stunning goal. The otherwise ghost-like Brummie Road Boinged in to life.
We looked at ease on the ball and were coasting. Another poor clearance by the Foxes defence fell for Koren to smash the ball in to the net Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boing Boing, whistle blows.
Second Half
Major blow as Reid is subbed and Abdoulaye Meite is on. Tamas goes to right back and Meite goes to centre half. It is soon backs to the wall as Leicester pile on the pressure and we seem happy to take it.
Olsson lost Howard in the box only to blast his shot wide. We were soon on the counter attack with Tamas going close and stinging the fingers of the Foxes' 'keeper Weale.
A poor pass by the totally inept Miller let the Foxes have a run on our goal only for Carson to close down Howard and chip his shot over the bar.
Miller was subbed after that and Bednar was on and the difference showed.
We took the pressure well and had some breaks of our own, Morrison again going close. Olsson was subbed for Mattock and much booing from the away fans but the game was put beyond battling Leicester when an inch perfect pass by James (back to his best) Morrison to Robert (ice cool) Koren who rounded Foxes 'keeper Weale to stroke the ball home. Goal!!!!!!!!!!
On Reflection
Leicester played well but did not have the quality to finish some slick moves. Ishmael Miller was a great disappointment today; the lad needs to take a long hard look at this and other performances and sort the issues out whether it be a confidence or fitness he will get left behind a good promotion seeking team.
Graham Dorrans, by his standards, had a quite game but James Morrison had a great game who looked back to his old self which was great to see. Mulumbu, Cech, Koren and Tamas all put in a good show.
I for one believe we have shown we have the mental strength and team to get the job done and take us back to the Premier League. Our last seven games have shown that we have nothing to fear with what is left.
BOING BOING YOU BAGGIE BOYS.